Systems, apparatuses and methods for tissue and substance removal, delivery and/or transplantation

ABSTRACT

Systems for tissue removal, delivery and/or transplantation include a dispensing canister having a canister wall and a beveled or sloped canister bottom panel carried by the canister wall, a pump disposed in fluid communication with the dispensing canister and a vibrational injection apparatus disposed in fluid communication with the pump. Injection apparatuses are also disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No.62/058,295, filed Oct. 1, 2014 and entitled SYSTEMS, APPARATUSES ANDMETHODS FOR TISSUE REMOVAL, DELIVERY AND/OR TRANSPLANTATION, whichprovisional application is hereby incorporated by reference herein inits entirety and is related to U.S. application Ser. No. 13/465,499,fled May 7, 2012 and entitled TISSUE SEPARATION, EQUALIZATION,ERADICATION AND REGENERATION DEVICES AND METHODS, and U.S. applicationSer. No. 14/173,021, filed Feb. 5, 2014 and entitled TISSUE REJUVENATIONMETHODS AND TISSUE TRANSFER DEVICES SUITABLE FOR IMPLEMENTATION THEREOF,each of which applications is incorporated by reference herein in itsentirety.

FIELD

Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure generally relate to systems,apparatuses and methods for removal, delivery and/or transplantation ofbody tissues and other substances in medical procedures. Moreparticularly, illustrative embodiments of the disclosure relate tosystems, apparatuses and methods for removal, delivery and/ortransplantation of body tissues and other substances such as adiposetissue, preparation fluids, or filler materials for tissue rejuvenation,body shaping or other medical purposes.

BACKGROUND

The background description provided herein is solely for the purpose ofgenerally presenting the context of the illustrative embodiments of thedisclosure. Aspects of the background description are neither expresslynor impliedly admitted as prior art against the claimed subject matter.

Skin, adipose, musculoskeletal, and other body tissues may change inappearance and/or lose function with age and/or use due to injury,disease, wear, aging and/or other causes. One of the goals of plasticsurgical procedures may include removal, delivery and/or transplantationof natural or man-made substances and body tissues in rejuvenation orshaping of the tissues to improve or restore the original appearanceand/or function of the tissues. For example, conventional tissue shapingprocedures may include liposuction, whereas tissue rejuvenationprocedures may include the use of filler materials or adiposestem/progenitor cells to augment areas or promote angiogenesis andadipose/collagen tissue regeneration. However, such procedures may haveless-than-optimum results and scarring.

Accordingly, systems, apparatuses and methods for removal, deliveryand/or transplantation of substances or body tissues such as adiposetissue for tissue rejuvenation, body shaping or other medical purposesare needed.

SUMMARY

Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure are generally directed tosystems for tissue removal, delivery of substances, and/ortransplantation. An illustrative embodiment of the systems includes adispensing canister having a canister wall and a beveled or slopedcanister bottom panel carried by the canister wall, a pump disposed influid communication with the dispensing canister and a vibrationalinjection apparatus disposed in fluid communication with the pump.

Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure are further generallydirected to injection apparatuses. An illustrative embodiment of theinjection apparatuses includes a vibrational injection apparatuscomprising an apparatus housing including an air inlet chamber, an airoutlet chamber and a connecting chamber connecting the air outletchamber and the air inlet chamber; an injection chamber disposed betweenthe air inlet chamber and the air outlet chamber; an injection nozzledisposed in fluid communication with the injection chamber; an injectioncannula carried by the injection nozzle; an inlet transducer wheel andan outlet transducer wheel mounted for rotation in the air inlet chamberand the air outlet chamber, respectively, of the apparatus housing; anda vibration transducer disposed in physical contact with the inlettransducer wheel and the outlet transducer wheel, the injection nozzledisposed in physical contact with the vibration transducer.

Some embodiments of the injection apparatuses may include an apparatushousing; a vibration mechanism in the apparatus housing; a materialinjector in the apparatus housing and mechanically coupled to thevibration mechanism; and an injection cannula disposed in fluidcommunication with the material injector.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by wayof example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an illustrative embodiment of the systems fortissue removal, delivery and/or transplantation;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a distal end segment of a typicalinjection cannula;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view, taken along section lines 3-3 in FIG.2, of the typical injection cannula;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a typical dispensing canister according to someembodiments of the systems;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a typical canister stand according to someembodiments of the systems, with a dispensing canister and an accessorycanister supported by the canister stand;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the typical canister stand with the dispensingcanister and the accessory canister removed from the stand;

FIG. 7 is a side view of a typical pneumatic vibrational injectionapparatus according to some embodiments of the systems;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a typical air-actuated transducer wheelof a pneumatic vibrational injection apparatus according to someembodiments of the systems;

FIG. 9 is an edge view of the typical transducer wheel;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an air inlet chamber, anair outlet chamber and a connecting chamber bypassing an injectionchamber in the pneumatic vibrational injection apparatus according tosome embodiments of the systems;

FIG. 10A is a schematic block diagram of an illustrative embodiment ofthe systems for tissue removal, delivery and/or transplantation whichutilizes a pneumatic vibrational injection apparatus;

FIG. 10B is a side view of a typical hand-actuated pneumatic vibrationalinjection apparatus according to some embodiments of the systems;

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of an alternative illustrative embodimentof the systems for tissue removal, delivery and/or transplantation witha cannula instrument connected to a pump and a tissue-collectingcontainer connected to the pump;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of a distal end segment of a typicalaspiration cannula for the cannula instrument of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a typical handle for the cannulainstrument of FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a front view of the typical handle for the cannula instrumentof FIG. 11; and

FIG. 15 is a sectional perspective view of a typical handheldvibrational injection apparatus according to some embodiments of thesystems.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and isnot intended to limit the described embodiments or the application anduses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary”or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, orillustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or“illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred oradvantageous over other implementations. All of the implementationsdescribed below are exemplary implementations provided to enable usersskilled in the art to practice the disclosure and are not intended tolimit the scope of the claims. Moreover, the illustrative embodimentsdescribed herein are not exhaustive and embodiments or implementationsother than those which are described herein and which fall within thescope of the appended claims are possible. Furthermore, there is nointention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented inthe preceding technical field, background, brief summary or thefollowing detailed description.

Referring initially to FIG. 1 of the drawings, an illustrativeembodiment of the systems for tissue removal, delivery and/ortransplantation, hereinafter system, is generally indicated by referencenumeral 1. The system 1 may include at least one dispensing canister 2.A canister stand 24 may support the dispensing canister 2 forgravity-fed dispensing of material 42 such as tissue and/or fluid fromthe dispensing canister 2. A pump 44 may be disposed in fluidcommunication with the dispensing canister 2 through sterile pump tubing46. A vibrational injection apparatus 50 may be disposed in fluidcommunication with the pump 44 through sterile apparatus tubing 48.

In exemplary application of the system 1, which will be hereinafterdescribed, the dispensing canister 2 may contain a supply of material 42which is to be injected into a recipient tissue underlying one or moreanatomical sites on a patent (not illustrated) during a medicalprocedure. In some non-limiting applications, the material 42 mayinclude a supply of crystalloid tumescent solution which is to beinjected into the recipient tissue underlying one or more anatomicalsites on the patient during a tumescent liposuction surgical procedure.In other non-limiting applications, the material 42 may include a supplyof adipose tissue which is to be injected into the recipient tissueunderlying one or more anatomical sites on the patient during an adiposetissue delivery or transplant surgical procedure. In still othernon-limiting applications, the material 42 may include a soft-tissuefiller such as hyaluronic acid and dispersion. In yet other non-limitingapplications, the material 42 may include tissue regenerative cells suchas adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs), pericytes and stem cells from bonemarrow, for example and without limitation, in tissue transplantationprocedures to regenerate damaged or deteriorated tissues in a patient.The pump 44 pumps the material 42 from the dispensing canister 2 to thevibrational injection apparatus 50. A surgeon or other medical personnel(not illustrated) operates and manipulates the vibrational injectionapparatus 50, which vibrates as the material 42 is injected into therecipient tissue. The reciprocating or otherwise vibrating action of thevibrational injection apparatus 50 facilitates enhanced and uniformdistribution of the material 42 throughout the recipient tissue,enabling the surgeon or medical personnel to achieve optimum results inthe procedure. The vibrational injection apparatus 50 may include aninjection cannula 60 having expanded tissue separation baskets 63. Theexpanded tissue separation baskets 63 of the injection cannula 60, inconjunction with the reduced areas 61 of the injection cannula 60 andthe vibrating action of the vibrational injection apparatus 50,facilitates recipient tissue expansion and preparation for deposition ofthe material 42, further enhancing distribution and dispersion of thematerial 42 throughout the recipient tissues.

Referring next to FIG. 4 of the drawings, the dispensing canister 2 ofthe system 1 may include a canister wall 3 which may be generallycylindrical in shape. The canister wall 3 may have a canister wallbottom edge 4 and a canister wall top edge 5. A canister bottom panel 8may be provided on the canister wall bottom edge 4 of the canister wall3. The canister bottom panel 8 may have a beveled, sloped or slantedorientation. In some embodiments, the slope of the canister bottom panel8 may vary from between about 5 degrees to about 150 degrees relative tothe canister wall 3.

A dispensing spigot 10 may be disposed in fluid communication with theinterior of the dispensing canister 2 at the lowest portion of thecanister bottom panel 8 to facilitate connection of the pump tubing 46(FIG. 1) to the dispensing canister 2. The dispensing spigot 10 mayprotrude downwardly from the canister bottom panel 8. The dispensingspigot 10 may include multiple spigot protrusions 11 which grip andsecure the pump tubing 46 to the dispensing spigot 10. A removablecanister lid 18 may be fitted on the canister wall top 5 of the canisterwall 3. In some embodiments, the dispensing canister 2 may have a volumeof about 1-5 L. Graduated canister markings 14 may be provided on thecanister wall 3 to indicate the volumes of the dispensing canister 2.The dispensing canister 2 and its components may be fabricated of clearacrylic, plastic or ultra high molecular weight plastic, for example andwithout limitation, using conventional molding and/or other fabricationtechniques known by those skilled in the art. The canister wall 3 may betransparent or clear to enable external visualization of the contents inthe dispensing canister 2.

In some embodiments, a canister handle 20 may protrude from the exteriorsurface of the canister wall 3 for carrying and handling purposes. Thecanister handle 20 may be detachably attached to the canister wall 3through a clip-on, slide-on or other suitable handle attachmentmechanism 21, or may alternatively be fixed to the canister wall 3according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art.

In some applications of the system 1, the sloped canister bottom panel 8of the dispensing canister 2 may facilitate separation of a lower layerof crystalloid and blood from overlying adipose tissue in the material42 which is to be injected into the recipient tissue in the patient. Thedispensing spigot 10 and the pump tubing 46, 48 may have a diameter orwidth which is sufficient to facilitate transfer of adipose tissue inthe material 42 without blockage to the pump 44 and the vibrationalinjection apparatus 50, respectively. In some non-limiting embodiments,the dispensing spigot 10 and the pump tubing 46, 48 may have a diameterof from about 3 mm to about 6 mm.

Referring next to FIGS. 5 and 6 of the drawings, the canister stand 24of the system 1 may include a canister stand frame 25. In someembodiments, the canister stand frame 25 may be generally elongated andrectangular with a pair of side frame members 26 and a pair of end framemembers 27 connecting the side frame members 26. A frame panel 28 may besupported by and extend between the side frame members 26 and the endframe members 27. As illustrated in FIG. 6, a first canister opening 30and a second canister opening 32 may extend through the frame panel 28in adjacent, spaced-apart relationship to each other.

A first set of parallel canister stand legs 34 may angle outwardly fromthe respective side frame members 26 beyond the end frame member 27 at afirst end of the canister stand frame 25. Angled foot portions 35 mayterminate the respective canister stand legs 34 to support the canisterstand legs 34 on a table or other flat support surface (notillustrated). A second set of parallel canister stand legs 34 a mayangle outwardly from the respective side frame members 26 beyond the endframe member 27 at a second end of the canister stand frame 25. Angledfoot portions 35 may terminate the respective canister stand legs 34 ato support the canister stand legs 34 a on the flat support surface (notillustrated). As illustrated in FIG. 5, each of the canister stand legs34, 34 a may extend through a leg opening (not illustrated) in a legstabilizing bracket 38 which may extend outwardly from a correspondingside frame member 26 of the canister stand frame 25. The variouscomponents of the canister stand 24 may be fabricated of stainless steeland/or other metal alloy or nonmetallic material which is suitable forthe purpose of stabilizing the dispensing canister 2 as well as anyaccessory canisters 40 (FIG. 5) during the medical procedure.

In some embodiments, at least one end of the canister stand frame 25 mayprotrude beyond at least the first set of canister stand legs 34 to format least one overhang 29. The first canister opening 32 may extendthrough the overhang 29 of the canister stand frame 25. Throughout themedical procedure and during operation of the system 1, the dispensingcanister 2 may remain seated in the first canister opening 30 at theoverhang 29. The overhang 29 may facilitate gravity-fed flow of thematerial 42 directly from the dispensing container 2 through thedispensing spigot 10 into the pump tubing 46. The overhang 29 may alsofacilitate placement of a biohazard waste receptacle (not illustrated)directly beneath the dispensing container 2 upon subsequent conclusionof the medical procedure. Accordingly, residual waste material 42(FIG. 1) which remains in the dispensing canister 2 can be selectivelydrained through the dispensing spigot 10 into the waste receptacle (notillustrated) and the residual waste material discarded.

The pump 44 (FIG. 1) of the system 1 may be any type of pump which issuitable for the purpose of pumping materials and fluids in surgicalprocedures. Such pumps may include but are not limited to roller pumpsor peristaltic pumps which are well known by those skilled in the art.In some applications, the operational rate of the pump 44 may beprogrammable and the pump 44 may have the capability to pump thematerial 42 from the dispensing canister 2 to the vibrational injectionapparatus 50 at a rate of from between about 10 cc per minute and about500 cc per minute.

The vibrational injection apparatus 50 of the system 1 may be any typeof hand-held motorized device which receives the material 42 from thepump 44 through the apparatus tubing 48 and vibrates while deliveringthe material 42 through an injection cannula 60 into a recipient tissuewhich underlies one or more of the anatomical sites on the patient (notillustrated) in a tissue removal, injection, transplantation or othermedical procedure. A non-limiting example of a motorized vibrationalinjection apparatus 50 which is suitable for the purpose is described inU.S. Patent Application Publication No. US2013/0310749, which isincorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Other non-limitingexamples of vibrational injection apparatuses which are suitable for thepurpose will be hereinafter described. Accordingly, the vibrationalinjection apparatus 50 may include an apparatus handle 51. A vibrationmotor 52 may be provided in the apparatus handle 51. A cannula connector53 may terminate the apparatus handle 51. The cannula connector 53 mayfacilitate coupling of the injection cannula 60 to the apparatus handle51 such as through a luer lock connector or other suitable connectioninterface known by those skilled in the art. A power source connection54 may extend from the apparatus handle 51 for connection to a suitablepower source 58 such as through a power cord 59. A switch (notillustrated) may be provided on the apparatus handle 51 or on the powercord 59 to facilitate selective manual operation of the vibration motor52. A tubing connector 55 may extend from the apparatus handle 51 forconnection to the apparatus tubing 48 from the pump 44. In someembodiments, the vibrational injection apparatus 50 may impart areciprocating motion 56 (FIG. 1) to the injection cannula 60. Thereciprocating motion 56 may have an actuated amplitude of from about 1mm to about 5 mm, for example and without limitation.

The injection cannula 60 may include an elongated cannula shaft 61 whichhas a shaft lumen 62 (FIG. 3) and terminates in a cannula tip 65. Insome embodiments, the injection cannula 60 may be an exploded basketcannula having at least one tissue separation basket 63 provided on thecannula shaft 61 proximal to the cannula tip 65. In some embodiments,multiple tissue separation baskets 63 (such as 2-4 for example andwithout limitation) may be provided along the cannula shaft 61 inspaced-apart relationship to each other. Each tissue separation basket63 may include multiple basket members 63 a which may extend outwardlyfrom the cannula shaft 61 in generally perpendicular relationship toeach other. A cannula slot 63 b (FIGS. 2 and 3) may extend through thewall of the cannula shaft 61 between each basket member 63 a and theshaft lumen 62. The tissue separation baskets 63 may facilitateseparation of and formation of multiple dispersion channels in therecipient tissue in the patient (not illustrated) for dispersion of thematerial 42 as the injection cannula 60 vibrates in the recipienttissue, as will be hereinafter further described. As illustrated in FIG.1, in some embodiments, the injection cannula 60 incorporates a 5 to 20degree angle placed in the long axis of the cannula 60, enhancing thevibrating or reciprocating action by providing an element of short axisreciprocation in addition to the long axis reciprocation, effectivelyenhancing the vibrational action of the device 50. In some embodiments,the injection cannula 60 may have a length of from about 20 cm to about50 cm and the cannula shaft 61 may range in diameter from about 2 mm toabout 5 mm. The injection cannula 60 may be fabricated of stainlesssteel, aluminum, ultra high molecular weight plastic and/or otherdisposable plastic or composite material. In some embodiments, theinjection cannula 60 may have a length of about 2 cm to 20 cm and thecanula shaft 61 may range in diameter from about 32 gauge to about 12gauge (needle gauge).

In exemplary application, the system 1 facilitates injection of amaterial 42 such as a supply of crystalloid tumescent solution which isto be percutaneously or subcutaneously injected into a recipient tissuewhich underlies one or more anatomical sites on a patient during orpreparatory to a tumescent liposuction surgical procedure or a supply ofadipose tissue which is to be injected into the recipient tissue duringan adipose tissue delivery or transplant surgical procedure.Accordingly, the material 42 may be placed in the dispensing container2. The canister stand 24 may be placed on a table or other suitablesupport (not illustrated). The dispensing container 2 may be seated inthe first canister opening 30 (FIG. 6) in the overhang 29 of thecanister stand 24.

The pump tubing 46 may be connected to the dispensing spigot 10 on thedispensing canister 2 and to the pump 44. The apparatus tubing 48 may beconnected to the pump 44 and the tubing connector 55 on the vibrationalinjection apparatus 50. The vibrational injection apparatus 50 may beconnected to the power source 58 through the power source connection 54.

An incision (not illustrated) is made at the anatomical site on thepatient which overlies the recipient tissue into which the material 42is to be injected. A surgeon (not illustrated) grips the apparatushandle 51 and inserts the injection cannula 60 into the incision. Thevibration motor 52 may be operated to vibrate the injection cannula 60typically according to the actuated amplitude of the reciprocatingmotion 56. As the pump 44 is operated to pump the material 42 from thedispensing canister 2 through the injection cannula 60 into therecipient tissue in the patient, the vibrating tissue separation baskets63 on the injection cannula 60 may facilitate mechanical separation ofconnective tissue and create expanded dispersion channels in therecipient tissue which enhance diffusion of the material 42 throughoutthe tissue. The vibrating action of the injection cannula 60 may alsofacilitate egress of the material 42 from the injection cannula 60 intothe recipient tissue. This effect may expedite removal of adipose tissuein all types of liposuction procedures including but not limited topercutaneous liposuction and liposuction directly into subcutaneousadipose tissue during liposuction and transplantation procedures.

In some applications, the system 1 may be implemented in tissuetransplantation procedures to regenerate damaged or deteriorated tissuesin a patient. Thus, the material 42 may include tissue regenerativecells such as adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs), pericytes and stemcells from bone marrow, for example and without limitation, which mayinitially be removed from donor tissue underlying one or more anatomicalsites on the patient using conventional liposuction instruments andtechniques. The material 42 which was removed from the donor tissue maysubsequently be placed into the dispensing canister 2 and injected intothe recipient tissue underlying one or more other anatomical sites onthe patient using the vibrational injection apparatus 50 to infiltratethe recipient tissue or tissues and mediate release of soluble factorsthat stimulate adipogenesis and angiogenesis for rejuvenation treatmentin the recipient tissue. The vibrating action of the injection cannula60 may increase the quantity or proportion of the tissue regenerativecells which are subject to injury before and as they enter the recipienttissue. The injured tissue regenerative cells may release solublefactors which recruit and activate other tissue regenerative cells andbone-marrow derived stem cells in the recipient tissue. The releasedfactors may promote angiogenesis and adipogenesis, filling and restoringthe original appearance of the anatomical site which overlies therecipient tissue. This procedure may be carried out as described inco-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 14/173,021, filed Feb. 5, 2014 andentitled TISSUE REJUVENATION METHODS AND TISSUE TRANSFER DEVICESSUITABLE FOR IMPLEMENTATION THEREOF, which application is incorporatedby reference herein in its entirety.

Upon conclusion of the injection procedure, the vibration motor 52 maybe turned off and the injection cannula 60 removed from the recipienttissue in the patient. Any residual material 42 which remains in thedispensing canister 2 may be drained through the dispensing spigot 10into a biohazard waste receptacle (not illustrated) which is placeddirectly beneath the dispensing canister 2 after detachment of the pumptubing 46. Alternatively, the residual material 42 may be decanted fromthe dispensing canister 2 by gripping the canister handle 20 and pouringthe residual material 42 into the waste receptacle.

Referring next to FIGS. 7-10A of the drawings, an alternativeillustrative embodiment of the systems 101 (FIG. 10A) which utilizes apneumatic vibrational injection apparatus 150 is illustrated. Thepneumatic vibrational injection apparatus 150 may include an apparatushousing 170. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the apparatus housing 170 mayinclude an air inlet chamber 171, an air outlet chamber 172 and aconnecting chamber 173 which connects the air outlet chamber 172 to theair inlet chamber 171. As further illustrated in FIG. 7, in operation ofthe apparatus 150, which will be hereinafter described, air 168 flowsthrough the air inlet chamber 171, the connecting chamber 173 and theair outlet chamber 172, respectively, of the apparatus housing 170 forpurposes which will be hereinafter described.

An injection chamber 176 may be disposed between the air inlet chamber171 and the air outlet chamber 172. As illustrated in FIG. 10, theinjection chamber 176 may bypass the connecting chamber 173 at a forwardend of the apparatus housing 170. An injection nozzle 177 may bedisposed in fluid communication with the injection chamber 176. Theinjection nozzle 177 may extend from the forward end of the apparatushousing 170. An injection cannula 179 may be coupled to the injectionnozzle 177 through a suitable needle connector 178 such as a luer-lockconnector, for example and without limitation.

An inlet transducer wheel 180 and an outlet transducer wheel 180 a maybe mounted for rotation in the air inlet chamber 171 and the air outletchamber 172, respectively, of the apparatus housing 170 such as viarespective wheel axles 183. As illustrated in FIG. 9, each of the inlettransducer wheel 180 and the outlet transducer wheel 180 a may include apair of spaced-apart transducer wheel disks 181. Multiple transducerwheel blades 182 may extend in radial orientation from the wheel axle183 outwardly between the transducer wheel disks 181 in spaced-apartrelationship to each other and around the circumference of thecorresponding inlet transducer wheel 180 and outlet transducer wheel 180a.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, an inlet air flow director 186 may be providedin the air inlet chamber 171 of the apparatus housing 170, upstream ofthe inlet transducer wheel 180 relative to the direction of the flow ofair 168 through the apparatus housing 170. The inlet air flow director186 may direct the air 168 which flows through the air inlet chamber 171against the transducer wheel blades 182 of the inlet transducer wheel180 such that the inlet transducer wheel 180 rotates in a firstdirection, such as the clockwise direction in the non-limiting exampleillustrated in FIG. 7. An outlet air flow director 186 a may likewise beprovided in the air outlet chamber 172 upstream of the outlet transducerwheel 180 a. The outlet air flow director 186 a may direct the air 168which flows through the air outlet chamber 172 against the transducerwheel blades 182 of the outlet transducer wheel 180 a such that theoutlet transducer wheel 180 a rotates in a second direction, such as thecounterclockwise direction in the non-limiting example illustrated inFIG. 7.

A vibration transducer 190 may be disposed in physical contact with theinlet transducer wheel 180 and the outlet transducer wheel 180 a. Theinjection nozzle 177 may be disposed in physical contact with thevibration transducer 190. In some embodiments, the vibration transducer190 may include an inlet transducer arm 191 which extends from the inlettransducer wheel 180 and an outlet transducer arm 191 a which extendsfrom the outlet transducer wheel 180 a. A transducer bridge 192 mayextend between the inlet transducer arm 191 and the outlet transducerarm 191 a. The injection nozzle 177 may extend through a nozzle opening(not illustrated) in the transducer bridge 192. Accordingly, responsiveto flow of air 168 through the air inlet chamber 171, the connectingchamber 173 and the air outlet chamber 172, respectively, the inlettransducer wheel 180 may rotate in the first direction to apply apushing motion to the inlet transducer arm 191. Conversely, the outlettransducer wheel 180 a may rotate in the second direction tosimultaneously apply a pulling motion to the outlet transducer arm 191a. This simultaneous antagonistic pushing and pulling action on theinlet transducer arm 191 and the outlet transducer arm 191 a,respectively, imparts vibration to the vibration transducer 190, whichin turn imparts vibration to the injection nozzle 177 and the injectioncannula 179.

As illustrated in FIG. 10A, a compressed air source 166 may be disposedin pneumatic communication with the air inlet chamber 171 and the airoutlet chamber 172, respectively, of the apparatus housing 170 through apair of compressed air lines 167. The compressed air lines 167 may bedetachably coupled to the respective air inlet chamber 171 and the airoutlet chamber 172 through any type of airtight hose coupling which isknown by those skilled in the art and suitable for the purpose. A pump144, such as the peristaltic pump 44 which was heretofore described withrespect to FIG. 1, for example and without limitation, may be disposedin fluid communication with the injection chamber 176 of the apparatushousing 170 through apparatus tubing 148. A dispensing canister 102,such as the dispensing canister 2 which was heretofore described withrespect to FIG. 4, may be disposed in fluid communication with the pump144 through pump tubing 146.

Operation of the pneumatic vibrational injection apparatus 150 of thesystem 101 may be as was heretofore described with respect to operationof the motorized vibrational apparatus 50 of the system 1 in FIG. 1. Asillustrated in FIG. 7, the flow of air 168 through the air inlet chamber171, the connecting chamber 173 and the air outlet chamber 172,respectively, imparts vibration to the injection cannula 179 through thevibration transducer 170 as was heretofore described.

Referring next to FIG. 10B of the drawings, a typical alternative,hand-actuated pneumatic vibrational injection apparatus 150 a which maybe used in implementation of system 101 in FIG. 10A is illustrated. Inthe hand-operated pneumatic vibrational injection apparatus 150 a, asyringe plunger 164 may slidably engage the injection chamber 176 in theapparatus housing 170 instead of the pump 144 being disposed in fluidcommunication with the injection chamber 176 as was heretofore describedwith respect to the system 101 illustrated in FIG. 10A. Accordingly, thematerial 42 (FIG. 1) which is injected into the recipient tissue in thepatient may first be drawn into the injection chamber 176 through theinjection cannula 179 by drawing a vacuum on the injection chamber 176through rearward displacement of the syringe plunger 164. The material42 may be expelled from the injection chamber 176 through the injectioncannula 179 into the recipient tissue by subsequently generatingpositive pressure in the injection chamber 176 through forwarddisplacement of the syringe plunger 164. Simultaneously, air 168 may bedistributed through the air inlet chamber 171, the connecting chamber173 and the air outlet chamber 172, respectively, of the apparatushousing 170, typically through the compressed air lines 167 coupled tothe compressed air source 166 (FIG. 10A), to impart vibration to theinjection cannula 179 as was heretofore described with respect tooperation of the vibrational injection apparatus 150 in FIG. 7.

Referring next to FIGS. 11-14 of the drawings, an alternativeillustrative embodiment of a system 201 with a cannula instrument 294connected to a pump 244 and a tissue-collecting container 202 isillustrated. The cannula instrument 294 may include a lightweightcannula handle 295. An aspiration cannula 400 may extend from thecannula handle 295. In some embodiments, the aspiration cannula 400 mayhave a length of from about 30 cm to about 50 cm and a diameter of fromabout 3 mm to about 5 mm. As illustrated in FIG. 12, the aspirationcannula 400 may include a series of staggered cannula openings 401proximal to the cannula tip 402. Each of the cannula openings 401 mayhave a circular, elliptical or other shape. In some embodiments, theaspiration cannula 400 may include about 10-14 cannula openings 401. Theaspiration cannula 400 may be stainless steel, aluminum, clear plasticsuch as ultrahigh molecular weight plastic and/or other suitablematerial.

As illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14, the cannula handle 295 of the cannulainstrument 294 may have a fenestrated or caged design with a pair ofspaced-apart handle end frame members 296. Multiple elongated handleside frame members 297 may extend between the handle end frame members296 in parallel, spaced-apart relationship to each other along thelength of the cannula handle 295. Multiple handle middle frame members298 may extend between the handle side frame members 297 in spaced-apartrelationship to each other between the handle end frame members 296. Anelongated tubing receptacle 299 may extend through and in generallyconcentric relationship to the handle end frame members 296 and thehandle middle frame members 298. Connecting frame members 300 may extendbetween the tubing receptacle 299 and the handle end frame members 296and between the tubing receptacle 299 and one or more of the handlemiddle frame members 298 to minimize structure and material whichconnects the pump tubing 246 to the cannula handle 295. The cannulahandle 295 may include lightweight aluminum, steel and/or other metalalloy and/or plastic or other suitable lightweight rigid material.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, in exemplary application, the aspirationcannula 400 may be connected to the cannula handle 295 via a luer lockor other suitable cannula connector 404. Apparatus tubing 248 mayconnect a pump 244 to the aspiration cannula 400 through the cannulaconnector 404. Pump tubing 246 may connect the pump 244 to a container202. The apparatus tubing 248 may extend through the tubing receptacle299 centralized along the length of the cannula handle 295. Accordingly,during a liposuction or other medical procedure, a surgeon (notillustrated) grips the cannula handle 295 and inserts the aspirationcannula 400 through an incision (not illustrated) into recipient tissuewhich underlies at one or more anatomical sites on a patient. The pump244 may be operated to suction adipose tissue from the patient throughthe aspiration cannula 400, the apparatus tubing 248 and the pump tubing246, respectively, into the container 202. The surgeon may repeatedlymove the aspiration cannula 400 back and forth in multiple strokes toensure that adipose tissue is adequately and uniformly removed from thedesired anatomical area of the patient. It will be appreciated by thoseskilled in the art that the lightweight construction of the cannulahandle 295 reduces the work which the surgeon is required to exert witheach stroke of the aspiration cannula 400 within the anatomical area ofthe patient which is being shaped. Accordingly, the lightweight cannulahandle 295 prevents the surgeon from becoming fatigued, particularly inliposuction procedures in which large quantities of adipose tissue areremoved from the patient.

Referring next to FIG. 15 of the drawings, another typical handheldvibrational injection apparatus 550 according to some embodiments of thesystems is illustrated. The vibrational injection apparatus 550 mayinclude an apparatus housing 570 which may be generally elongated. Theapparatus housing 570 may include a vibration mechanism compartment 571and an adjacent injector compartment 572. A vibration mechanism 576 maybe provided in the vibration mechanism compartment 571 and a materialinjector 584 may be provided in the injector compartment 572 of theapparatus housing 570.

The vibration mechanism 576 may include any type of mechanical,pneumatic or other device which is capable of imparting vibration to thematerial injector 584 typically in a manner which will be hereinafterdescribed. In some embodiments, the vibration mechanism 576 may includethe pneumatic vibrating mechanism which was heretofore described withrespect to the vibrational injection apparatuses 150, 150 a in FIGS.7-10B. In other embodiments, the vibration mechanism 576 may include avibration mechanism motor 577. A battery compartment 580 may be providedin the vibration mechanism compartment 571 adjacent to the vibrationmechanism motor 577. The battery compartment 580 may be electricallyconnected to the vibration mechanism motor 577 and may contain at leastone battery (not illustrated) which supplies electrical current foroperation of the vibration mechanism motor 577. The vibration mechanismmotor 577 may drivingly engage a vibration shaft 578 for reciprocationof the vibration shaft 578 according to the knowledge of those skilledin the art. An injector vibrating shaft 560 may be engaged forreciprocation by the vibration shaft 578. A shaft connector 566 maycouple the injector vibrating shaft 560 to the vibration shaft 578.

The material injector 584 may include any type of mechanism, structureor device which is suitable for the purpose of receiving or containing amaterial 42 (FIG. 1) and facilitating injection of the material into thepatient or removing the material 42 from the patient. The materialinjector 584 may include at least one injection chamber 585. In someembodiments, a hand-operated or automated plunger 586 may terminate in aplunger head 587 which slides within the injection chamber 585 tofacilitate selective drawing of the material 42 into or expulsion of thematerial 42 from the injection chamber 585. In other embodiments, a pump44 (FIG. 1) may be connected in fluid communication with the injectionchamber 585 through apparatus tubing 48. A dispensing canister 2 may beconnected in fluid communication with the pump 44 and may contain thematerial 42 which is to be injected into the patient.

A telescoping injector tube 588 in the injector compartment 572 of theapparatus housing 570 may be disposed in fluid communication with theinjection chamber 585. A cannula connector 590 may be disposed in fluidcommunication with the injector tube 588 on the exterior of theapparatus housing 570. The cannula connector 590 may facilitate couplingof an injection cannula 592 to the material injector 584 such as througha luer lock connector or other suitable connection interface known bythose skilled in the art. In some embodiments, the injection cannula 592may have a length of from about 2 cm to about 20 cm and the cannulashaft of the injection cannula 592 may range in diameter from about 32gauge to about 12 gauge (needle gauge).

A driver 554 may couple the injector vibrating shaft 560 of thevibration mechanism 576 to the injector tube 588 of the materialinjector 584. The driver 554 may include a generally elongated driverbridge 555 and a driver head 556 which terminates the driver bridge 555.The reciprocating vibration shaft 560 may extend through a shaft opening(not illustrated) in the driver bridge 555 and may engage the driverbridge 555 for reciprocation of the driver 554 with the reciprocatingvibration shaft 560. The injector tube 588 may communicate with a tubeopening (not illustrated) in the driver head 556 and may extend andretract in a telescoping motion with the reciprocating driver 554. Aspring stop 561 may terminate the vibration shaft 560. A driver returnspring 562 may be interposed between the driver bridge 555 and thespring stop 561. Accordingly, in operation of the vibrational injectionapparatus 550, the vibration motor 577 repeatedly reciprocates thereciprocating vibration shaft 578 and the injector vibrating shaft 560between retracted and extended positions. The driver bridge 555 and thedriver head 556 of the driver 554 reciprocate with the injectorvibrating shaft 560. Thus, the driver head 556 of the driver 554reciprocates the telescoping injector tube 588, which telescopes andvibrates the material 42 as it flows from the injector chamber 585through the injector tube 588 and the injection cannula 592 coupled tothe cannula connector 590 and is discharged from the injection cannula592 into the patient (not illustrated).

Application of the vibrational injection apparatus 550 may be as washeretofore described with respect to the vibrational injection apparatus50 in the system 1 illustrated in FIG. 1. Accordingly, material 42 maybe drawn into the injection chamber 585 of the material injector 584through the injection cannula 592 by actuation of the plunger 586. Thematerial 42 may include a supply of crystalloid tumescent solution whichis to be percutaneously or subcutaneously injected into a recipienttissue which underlies one or more anatomical sites on a patient duringor preparatory to a tumescent liposuction surgical procedure or a supplyof adipose tissue which is to be injected into the recipient tissueduring an adipose tissue delivery or transplant surgical procedure.Alternatively, the material 42 may include a soft-tissue filler such ashyaluronic acid and dispersion which is to be injected in a patient inbody shaping procedures. Still further in the alternative, the material42 may include tissue regenerative cells such as adipose-derived stemcells (ASCs), pericytes and stem cells from bone marrow, for example andwithout limitation, in tissue transplantation procedures to regeneratedamaged or deteriorated tissues in a patient.

The vibration mechanism motor 577 may be operated to vibrate thetelescoping injector tube 588 of the material injector 584 through thereciprocating the vibration shaft 578, the injector vibrating shaft 560and the driver 554 as the injector 584 is operated to expel the material42 from the injection chamber 585 through the injector tube 588, thedriver head 556 and the cannula connector 590 and into the injectioncannula 592, respectively. As the material 42 is discharged from theinjection cannula 592 into the patient, the vibrating motion of theinjector tube 588 is transmitted to the injector cannula 592 through thedriver head 556 and the cannula connector 590. The vibrating injectioncannula 592 may facilitate mechanical separation of connective tissueand create expanded dispersion channels in the recipient tissue whichenhance diffusion of the material 42 throughout the tissue, facilitateegress of the material 42 from the injection cannula 592 into therecipient tissue and/or increase the quantity or proportion of tissueregenerative cells which are in the material 42 and subject to injurybefore and as they enter the recipient tissue. Thus, the injured tissueregenerative cells may release soluble factors which recruit andactivate other tissue regenerative cells and bone-marrow derived stemcells in the recipient tissue. The released factors may promoteangiogenesis and adipogenesis, filling and restoring the originalappearance of the anatomical site which overlies the recipient tissue.

While illustrative embodiments of the disclosure have been describedabove, it will be recognized and understood that various modificationscan be made in the disclosure and the appended claims are intended tocover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scopeof the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for tissue removal, delivery and/ortransplantation, comprising: a dispensing canister having a canisterwall and a beveled or sloped canister bottom panel carried by thecanister wall, the dispensing canister suitably configured to contain adispensable material; pump tubing disposed in fluid communication withthe dispensing canister; a pump disposed in fluid communication with thedispensing canister through the pump tubing; apparatus tubing disposedin fluid communication with the pump; and a vibrational injectionapparatus disposed in fluid communication with the pump through theapparatus tubing, the pump configured to pump the dispensable materialfrom the dispensing canister to the vibrational injection apparatus andthe vibrational injection apparatus configured to inject the dispensablematerial into a recipient tissue as the vibrational injection apparatusvibrates the dispensable material.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein thevibrational injection apparatus comprises a motorized vibrationalinjection apparatus.
 3. The system of claim 2 wherein the motorizedvibrational injection apparatus comprises an apparatus handle, avibration motor provided in the apparatus handle, a cannula connectorterminating the apparatus handle, an injection cannula carried by thecannula connector, a power source connection extending from theapparatus handle and a tubing connector extending from the apparatushandle for connection to the pump.
 4. The system of claim 3 wherein themotorized vibrational injection apparatus imparts a reciprocating motionto the injection cannula.
 5. The system of claim 4 wherein thereciprocating motion has an actuated amplitude of from about 1 mm toabout 5 mm.
 6. The system of claim 1 wherein the vibrational injectionapparatus comprises a pneumatic vibrational injection apparatus.
 7. Thesystem of claim 6 wherein the pneumatic vibrational injection apparatuscomprises an apparatus housing including an air inlet chamber, an airoutlet chamber and a connecting chamber connecting the air outletchamber and the air inlet chamber; an injection chamber disposed betweenthe air inlet chamber and the air outlet chamber; an injection nozzledisposed in fluid communication with the injection chamber; an injectioncannula carried by the injection nozzle; an inlet transducer wheel andan outlet transducer wheel mounted for rotation in the air inlet chamberand the air outlet chamber, respectively, of the apparatus housing; anda vibration transducer disposed in physical contact with the inlettransducer wheel and the outlet transducer wheel, the injection nozzledisposed in physical contact with the vibration transducer.
 8. Thesystem of claim 7 further comprising a compressed air source disposed inpneumatic communication with the air inlet chamber and the air outletchamber.
 9. The system of claim 1 further comprising a canister standhaving a canister stand frame, a frame panel carried by the canisterstand frame and at least one canister opening in the frame panel, andwherein the dispensing canister is seated in the at least one canisteropening.
 10. The system of claim 9 wherein the canister stand framecomprises a pair of side frame members, a pair of end frame membersconnecting the pair of side frame members, a first set of canister standlegs angling outwardly from the respective side frame members at a firstend of the canister stand frame, a second set of canister stand legsangling outwardly from the respective side frame members at a second endof the canister stand frame, and an overhang formed by at least one endof the canister stand frame protruding beyond at least the first set ofcanister stand legs, and wherein the at least one canister openingextends through the frame panel at the overhang.
 11. A system for tissueremoval, delivery and/or transplantation, comprising: a dispensingcanister having a canister wall and a beveled or sloped canister bottompanel carried by the canister wall; a pump disposed in fluidcommunication with the dispensing canister; and a vibrational injectionapparatus disposed in fluid communication with the pump, the vibrationalinjection apparatus including: an apparatus handle; an injection cannulahaving a cannula shaft extending from the apparatus handle and aplurality of expanded tissue separation baskets extending from thecannula shaft, the injection cannula including an angle in a long axisof the cannula shaft, whereby the plurality of expanded tissueseparation baskets and the angle in the long axis of the cannula shaftfacilitates recipient tissue expansion and preparation for deposition ofa material from the dispensing canister through the injection cannula,thereby enhancing distribution and dispersion of the material throughoutthe recipient tissues; and the pump configured to pump the material fromthe dispensing canister to the vibrational injection apparatus and thevibrational injection apparatus configured to inject the material into arecipient tissue as the vibrational injection apparatus vibrates thematerial.
 12. The system of claim 11 wherein the vibrational injectionapparatus comprises a motorized vibrational injection apparatus.